President Biden knew immediately after stepping off the stage in Atlanta on Thursday night that the debate had gone wrong.
In those first stricken moments after a raspy, rambling and at times incoherent performance, he turned to his wife, Jill Biden.
Whatever was going to happen next in Mr. Biden’s last presidential race, after perhaps the worst moment of his long political life, was always going to come down to her.
Her thinking, according to people close to her, was that it was a bad night.
“To say they’ve been in foxholes together doesn’t even begin to explain their bond,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director, who has been with Mr. Biden since his Senate days.
Persons:
Biden, Jill Biden, Biden’s, They’d, they’ve, doesn’t, ”, Elizabeth Alexander
Locations:
Atlanta, foxholes